KSTV: Playback session - Baby Dodds Trio playing Jazz á la Creole - Feb. 20

Adrian Cox (clarinet, vocals); Dave Archer guitar); Deschanel Gordon (piano); Ferg Ireland (double bass); Will Cleasby (drums)

(Screenshots by Ken Drew)

The Wolverine Blues got things underway with New Orleans specialist Adrian Cox leading the pack. A Baby Dodds' Jazz á la Creole hour with none other than Evan Christopher listening in online from NOLA! First thoughts, pianist Deschanel 'Desch' Gordon (aka Don Ewell) comfortable in the idiom, likewise drummer Will 'Baby Dodds' Cleasby. 

Cox (think Albert Nicholas) invited Cleasby to play Dodds' Drum Improvisation #1, you could say Cleasby made a good job of it!  The Creole component emerged as Cox sang Salee Dame, excellent. Danny Barker's Les Ognons heard more from Cox the vocalist, Dave Archer strumming/soloing the Barker instrumental part. Dodds' second improvised solo on the Jazz á la Creole recording (Drum Improvisation #2) put Will C back in the spotlight. Cox was impressed. 

Cox introduced Corinne Died on the Battlefield as 'a cheery little number'! Will C playing tambourine, now there's a first! They were dancing down in the Vieux Carré. More vocals from Cox on Tootie Ma is a Big Fine Thing, the band following Dave Archer's lead. The man at the back, bass man Mr Ferg Ireland is the man on all of these Kansas Smitty's sessions and here he was again, a class act is Ferg. One more, My Indian Red, Cleasby bringing it in, a Cox vocal, Cox urging Dave Archer to 'tell 'em'. And the last word (almost) from Ferg Ireland and Will C before leaving it to Cox to take it home.       

Russell

Set list: The Wolverine Blues; Albert's Blues; Drum Improvisation #1; Salee Dame; Les Ognons; Corinne Died on the Battlefield; Tootie Ma is a Big Fine Thing; My Indian Red